Texas Rangers Blog

Rangers send LHP Zach Phillips to Baltimore for INF Nick Green

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Rangers have traded LHP Zach Phillips, who was designated for assignment last week to make room on the 40-man roster for RHP Scott Feldman, to Baltimore for INF-OF Nick Green.

Green does not go on the 40-man roster and will be assigned to Triple-A Round Rock, where he will become utility man insurance. Currently, INF Omar Quintanilla is the Rangers’ utility man, but when Andres Blanco returns from the DL, likely early next week, the Rangers will probably remove Quintanilla from the 40-man roster, which means he could be lost. The Rangers are holding on to INF Esteban German in case they have a long-range need for a utility man or for a September callup.

Some details on the players involved from the Rangers’ press release:

Green, 32, has spent the entire season with Triple-A Norfolk in the International League, batting .208 (64-308) with 10 home runs, 16 doubles, and 46 RBI in 87 games. With Norfolk this season, he has seen action at second base, third base, and shortstop, as well as all three outfield positions. The right-handed batter had a 2-homer, 7-RBI game on July 8 at Durham.

Green has played in 393 major league games with Atlanta (2004), Tampa Bay (2005-06), New York-AL (2006), Seattle (2007), Boston (2009), Los Angeles-NL (2010), and Toronto (2010). He has a career .237 average in the big leagues with 16 home runs and 96 RBI. He has played just 6 major league games in the outfield, but has seen extensive time at second base, third base, and shortstop.

Phillips had been designated for assignment on Thursday when Scott Feldman was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. The 24-year-old has spent the entire season at Round Rock, going 1-3 with 3 saves and a 4.43 ERA (22 ER/44.2 IP) in 33 relief appearances. He has never appeared in the majors, but was in big league spring training camp the last two seasons and is in his seventh professional campaign. Phillips was originally selected by Texas in the 23rd round of the 2004 June draft.